James Franklin explains what a ‘healthy’ football program can do for Penn State

After a couple of down years, the Penn State football program got back to its winning ways in 2022 by finishing 11-2 and No. 11 in the final College Football Playoff rankings after they beat Utah in the Rose Bowl to cap off the year. Sure, the Nittany Lions lose some key guys off last season’s team and have plenty of questions to answer this fall, but the program as a whole is still in a great spot after last season.

According to head coach James Franklin, a strong Penn State program is a good thing for everyone. It means a stronger Big Ten, a stronger local economy (especially on game days) and a much stronger and more profitable athletic department as a whole.

Here he was explaining all of the advantages, for everybody, that come from Penn State putting a great football team on the field:

“Well, I think a healthy Penn State football team is not just good for for the athletic department, it’s good for this community. It’s good for this state, hotels, the restaurants, the bars, we’re all in this thing together in this community, you know. I think we know a lot of business comes from from a healthy Penn State football program. I think it’s good for the Big Ten. There’s a lot of reasons why it’s important.”

He continued, laying out the goals he has for his players as student-athletes:

“So, from athletic department stuff, I’ll let Pat, you know, speak on those specifics and those things. But for us, you know, we got a job to do, which is to put our players in the best position to be successful… to get Penn State degrees, to represent, you know, this university and this community the right way… and to go out on the field and and compete at a very high level — and what you could argue is the best division in college football. So there’s a lot that comes with that.”

Lastly, Franklin explained that the pressure and buzz around the program is a good thing.

“We don’t really look at it as as pressure. You know, it’s exciting and it’s why you come to a place like Penn State. But specific to the athletic department, it’s probably the question for Pat James. But there’s a lot of buzz about this program this year.”

Watch out for another season full of excitement in State College, at least that’s what James Franklin is expecting.